Why Bachelor of Arts?
Ever question the stories woven into our social norms, media and pop culture? Want the tools to challenge these narratives?
Gender and sexuality hold central – and at times controversial – roles in daily life. Yet their significance is often taken for granted without critical reflection.
Studying gender and sexuality unlocks powerful insights and opportunities. Learn to constructively advocate for equality. Build self-awareness and confidence. Develop critical thinking and cultural understanding for impact-driven careers, from the corporate realm to the creative industries. You’ll graduate ready to promote inclusion, tackle discrimination and inspire real change.
Overview
Prepare for a meaningful career with our flexible and future-focused Bachelor of Arts.
In the Gender and Sexuality Studies major, you’ll tackle complex and controversial social and cultural issues. From systemic discrimination to workplace sexism get ready for an enlightening journey. Examine how gender and sexuality intersect with race, class and other social identities. Dissect social structures and cultural dynamics to understand power, privilege and identity. Appreciate not only the value, but the diversity of lived experience. Reflect critically on your own positionality.
You’ll learn how to respond constructively to contested issues, building strong analytical and communication tools. Ensure your standpoint is evidence-based and connected to affected communities. Discover creative and equitable approaches to advocacy. Learn to collaborate meaningfully and thrive in industry settings, with hands-on internships in the field.
You’ll graduate equipped to champion diverse and marginalised perspectives in your future workplaces and communities on both the local and global stage.
Key features
Analyse how gender and sexuality shape society and affect people's lives. - Explore intersectional social identities such as race, ethnicity, citizenship, social class, age and ability.
- Learn creative and impactful advocacy strategies.
- Build your professional network, working alongside active researchers and experts.
- Clarify your career path by exploring the many possibilities of the field.
- Help analyse and solve real-world problems through an industry internship.
What you'll learn
Our Bachelor of Arts is designed to be flexible, so you can select courses that ignite your passions and align with your career goals. Build core writing, communication, debate and critical analysis skills, while nurturing your adaptability and creative thinking. Explore high-level social justice and ethical issues, setting you up for responsible global citizenship.
Establish professional connections, with mentoring from experts in the field. Define your career trajectory through focused research and self-reflection. Undertake an industry internship, leveraging the hands-on experience to inform your future career path.
In the Gender and Sexuality Studies major, you’ll take thought-provoking and future-focused courses, including:
- Beyond pink and blue: genders and sexualities in the contemporary world
- Gender and crime: sex, violence and justice
- Gender, work and intimate life
- Gender, sexuality and race: intersectionality and coloniality
- Gender, sexuality and everyday cultures
- Gender, sexuality and human rights
- Medicine, genders and sexualities
- Gender and sexuality in the digital age.
Gender and Sexuality Studies is a progressive discipline at the forefront of theoretical and methodological research developments. Our staff actively integrate research into their teaching, establishing a dynamic connection to emerging trends, such as AI, new reproductive technologies, queer cultures, criminology and new forms of masculinity. This means your learning goes beyond foundational knowledge, incorporating the very latest advancements and insights in the field. Engage in cutting-edge discourse as you research, dissect and evaluate intricate social and cultural phenomena. Learn strategies to challenge systemic discrimination. Join a passionate community of learners committed to making a difference.
Our Bachelor of Arts also encourages you to explore further by taking another major in a different area. Pursue interdisciplinary studies to compliment your Gender and Sexuality Studies journey.
Majors
The Bachelor of Arts is also available with majors in the following:
- Aboriginal Studies
- Archaeology and Classical Studies
- Art History and Visual Culture
- Anthropology
- Chinese Studies
- Cultural Studies
- Creative Writing
- English Literature
- Environmental Management
- French Studies
- Geography
- German Studies
- History
- International Development
- International Security
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Population and Migration Studies
- Screen Studies
- Sociology
- Spanish Studies.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 18 units for Core courses, and
- 96 units for 2 Majors from Majors, and
- 18 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 12 units for all Electives
Complete 18 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Beyond Pink and Blue: Genders and Sexualities in the Contemporary World
|
Course code
SOCI1201
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Gender and Crime: Sex, Violence and Justice
|
Course code
SOCI1202
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Gender, Work and Intimate Life
|
Course code
SOCI2201
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Gender, Sexuality and Race: Intersectionality and Coloniality
|
Course code
SOCI2202
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Gender, Sexuality and Everyday Cultures
|
Course code
SOCI2203
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Gender, Sexuality and Human Rights
|
Course code
SOCI3201
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Medicine, Genders and Sexuality
|
Course code
SOCI3202
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Contemporary Theories of Genders and Sexualities in the Digital Age
|
Course code
SOCI3203
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 1
|
Course code
SOCI1007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 2
|
Course code
AUXX1012
|
Units
6
|
Complete one Major from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Aboriginal Studies
|
Course code
ABORBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Anthropology
|
Course code
ANTHBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Archaeology and Classical Studies
|
Course code
ARCYBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Art History and Visual Culture
|
Course code
ARTHBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Creative Writing
|
Course code
CREWBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
English Literature
|
Course code
ENGLBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Environmental Management
|
Course code
ENVMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
French Studies
|
Course code
FRENBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Geography
|
Course code
GEOGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
German Studies
|
Course code
GERMBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Chinese Studies
|
Course code
CHINBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Cultural Studies
|
Course code
CULTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
History
|
Course code
HISTBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Development
|
Course code
INTDBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
International Security
|
Course code
INTSBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Italian Studies
|
Course code
ITALBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese Studies
|
Course code
JAPNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
|
Course code
LINGBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Philosophy
|
Course code
PHILBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Politics
|
Course code
POLIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Population and Migration Studies
|
Course code
POPUBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Screen Studies
|
Course code
SCRNBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Sociology
|
Course code
SOCIBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Spanish Studies
|
Course code
SPANBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Social Research and Policy Analysis
|
Course code
SOCRBARTS
|
Units
48
|
|
|
Course name
Kaurna Languages
|
Course code
KAURBARTS
|
Units
48
|
Career outcomes
Studying at Adelaide University will set you up for success in exciting careers championing inclusivity and social change. You could be a diversity consultant on major motion pictures. You might develop educational materials and training programs for teachers. Perhaps you’ll oversee events or campaigns for organisations like Minus18, headspace, Amnesty International or Shine SA.
You could also be a:
- Policy analyst
- Human rights advocate
- Not-for-profit organisation manager
- Sexual health educator
- Human resources manager
- Youth worker
- Men’s health worker
- Community organiser
- International aid worker
- Public health educator
- Diversity and inclusion specialist
- LGBTQIA+ health advocate
- Film critic.
Industry trends
As organisations strive to be more inclusive, there's growing demand for professionals trained in understanding and managing diversity. This includes roles in corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives, human resources and community outreach programs where insights into gender and sexuality are crucial.
The rise of digital activism and community building through social media platforms also creates new avenues for engagement and advocacy. This trend is likely to expand, offering new careers in content creation, social media management, AI training and digital community outreach. Importantly, we need educated individuals with critical analysis skills to ensure digital and media conversations are ethical, intersectional and evidence based.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
